Home invasion horror movies seemed to be on
the decline, but they have returned with several revisionist narratives, including
hybrids combining other sub-genres with the formula. Given the allegorical parallels
between both home invasion and alien invasion films, it is unsurprising the two
sub-genres have been combined to create hybrid home invasion films. First Hulu
distributed No One Will Save You this year, an alien home invasion
hybrid with only a handful of lines of dialogue. Now the low budget release The
Hive has been released with a body snatchers element added to the formula,
though it may also have been better off without the dialogue given the
effectiveness of the performances.
The film joins average
middle-class couple Albie (Timothy Haug) and Penny (Christie Griffin) as they
get ready for a date night in the suburban home they have recently moved into.
As is often the case in home invasion films, there are early indications that
this couple is having marital problems; while Penny is excited for an evening
out, Albie is too preoccupied with a screenplay he is working on to make his
wife a priority. When the couple finally does leave for their night out, it
doesn’t go as planned and they are eager to return to the safety of their house
but are shocked to find it occupied by a strange couple (Miles Taber and Julianne
Ruck).
The strange
couple behave like nothing unusual is happening, smiling as they greet Albie
and Penny when they return to the invaded home. The situation only gets more
bizarre when calls to the police are ignored, as they are seemingly
collaborating with the odd invaders. This indicates a larger invasion taking
place, though The Hive remains focused on the small-scale invasion occurring
in the troubled couple’s home. When Albie and Penny make the unwise decision to
attempt breaking into their own home, they are confined and interrogated by the
invaders.
The premise for The
Hive is promising, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. While
surreal cutaway images are used to convey the film’s sci-fi elements
convincingly enough, the action practically occurring in reality is not nearly
as effective. While there isn’t enough blood and gore in the film (or most of
the home invasion sub-genre, for that matter), the few moments of violence are
stiffly choreographed and played out by the cast. The acting by the cast might
be the biggest problem, exaggerating both the terror of the victims and the
goofy cheerfulness of the invaders, while underselling the physicality of the
horror. This results in unintentional humor where the scares should have been.
The Hive
isn’t the worst attempt at home invasion horror, but it is also a far cry from
the best. Given the primarily single-location setting, this is unlikely to be
the last low budget attempt at the sub-genre of horror. While it is nice to see
some variation in the approach, The Hive could have used a more
competent cast, even more than a larger budget.
Entertainment Value:
5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
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